Made for Wales: Preparing for success

I hope the spring term has been successful and you are looking forward to the upcoming Easter break. As September approaches, centres across Wales are busy preparing to start delivering our first suite of Made-for-Wales GCSE qualifications and I want to personally reassure you that we remain fully committed to supporting centres throughout this important preparation phase.

With the outlines for our second wave Made-for-Wales qualifications now published, our Qualification Development Team continues to work at pace to submit draft specifications to Qualifications Wales. Building on this momentum, preparatory work has already begun on the third wave. Throughout this process, we'll keep you informed and seek your valuable feedback, maintaining our commitment to co-construction that ensures these qualifications truly reflect the needs and aspirations of Welsh learners and educators.

Underpinning our development work is our dedication to diversity and inclusivity. Our ongoing partnership with Diversity and Anti-Racism Professional Learning (DARPL) ensures that every qualification we develop fosters inclusivity and inspires learners through materials that genuinely resonate with them and celebrate Wales' rich cultural diversity.

Comprehensive support at your fingertips 

We are delighted to announce that all teaching documentation for our first wave of GCSE qualifications, including Sample Assessment Materials and Guidance for Teaching, are now available on our website. These comprehensive documents have been carefully designed to ensure you can prepare for the delivery of these qualifications with both confidence and clarity.

To further support your teaching journey, we have launched our dedicated Made-for-Wales Resources website as a one-stop shop for all support materials. The platform is regularly updated, and new materials, including video tutorials will be published over the coming months, to enhance the user experience.

I would like to thank everyone who attended our Pan Wales Professional Learning sessions. Our teams were extremely pleased with the active participation shown throughout these sessions, which showcased a genuine enthusiasm in collaboration to ensure the successful delivery of these new qualifications.

Expanding learning pathways

In February, we launched a survey seeking feedback on our upcoming Wave 3 suite of VCSEs, Foundation, and Skills for Work/Life qualifications. Thank you to everyone who participated - your insights are helping us shape these new offerings for 2027, ensuring they fully support the Curriculum for Wales and its Four Purposes.

These new qualifications will offer new and exciting pathways for 14-16-year-old learners beyond traditional GCSEs, emphasising practical skills, vocational knowledge, and preparation for further education or employment - all while maintaining alignment with curriculum values and Welsh learner needs.
 
Engaging with you: Building strong Educational Partnerships

We have been connecting with stakeholders at key events across Wales including the National Training Federation for Wales, where our Vocational Qualification offerings generated significant interest. We are also preparing to present at an upcoming Senedd Briefing in May, where we'll share our progress on the Made-for-Wales qualifications with policymakers and education leaders to ensure continued alignment with Wales' educational priorities.

My visits across Wales during the first quarter of 2025 have been incredibly rewarding. Connecting with headteachers, teachers and learners at Stanwell School, Caerleon Comprehensive School, Ysgol Maesydderwen and at Secondary Heads Network in Swansea has provided direct insights that inform our approach and support. If you would like to arrange a visit, please contact me at lorna.turner@wjec.co.uk.

Celebrating excellence

We have had wonderful opportunities to celebrate the outstanding achievements of learners across the country in recent months, showcasing the talent that our qualifications help nurture.

The 11th annual Moving Image Awards, held in February at the iconic British Film Institute (BFI) on London's South Bank, celebrated exceptional student filmmaking talent from across the UK. Thomas Langridge from Twyford Church of England High School claimed both the Student Jury Prize and Animation award for "The Landlord's Inspection," while Kateryna Iwasko from Ashbourne College won Best Short Film for "Ikebana." With esteemed industry judges including Anna Smith and Amrou Al-Kadhi, this collaborative event with the BFI continues to showcase the remarkable creativity fostered through our Film and Media Studies qualifications.

We were also delighted to announce the third round of recipients for the Gareth Pierce Bursary, awarded to three promising Welsh students: Iwan Rhys Bryer and Siôn ap Llwyd Dafydd from Cardiff University, and Jacob Matthew Redmond from Aberystwyth University. Each student will receive £3,000 to support their studies in Mathematics through the medium of Welsh, continuing the legacy of our former Chief Executive's passion for Mathematics and Welsh-medium education.

On behalf of everyone at WJEC, I want to thank you for your ongoing support, dedication, and professionalism. Together, we can shape a brighter future for learners in Wales.

I wish you all a restful Easter break and a successful Summer Series.

Ian